The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-07-08
Reformed Gamblers Sermon

AkOAOEhACtA S0hAhDloA - tJOA AAhOs'T
From the San Francisco Chronicle.
Evangelist Ned Forests broadcloth
coat mad not a speck OF dust upon it,
his white fourth hand scarf was ad-
justed to q nicely around his "cut-
my-chin" collar, and his hair was
banged and plastered as accurately
MS vaseline would stick it when he be-
gan operations on the souls OF his
very respectable audience Mt the Cen
trail Methodist Church. The reformed
short-card player was the central brill
liant in setting OF smart young wom-
en- who sang more or less, and five
gentlemen OF various degrees OF thick
ness who formed the male portion OF
the choir. The exhorter had the
pulpit moved to one side, so
rs to leave the platform free for
his exasperated motions. The
audience was composed mainly OF the
male sex, the fairer half OF creation
being too much mystifed by the re-
formed gamblers technical slang to
appreciate his sallies, while the men
present affected the bald head by "
large majority. Forests vernacular
frequently brought down the house,
his illusions to 'full hands" and
straight flushes," blufling," ''strad-
dies" "antes," and stocked deals
being thoroughly enjoyed, and appar-
emily appreciated. A particularly
unique feature of the series OF services
is the absence OF the collection plate.
As q consequence the audience re-
manned until the benediction.
Out OF regard for the conventional
tiles, but evidently for no other reason.
Forest selected text, "Saved by
Hope" which he announced was to be
found in eighth Romans, Oath verse,
and paid no further attention to.
The services were opened by singing,
which he started with the Injunction
to the young lady in the frizzes who
played the organ, to "Let her go!"
And she did ''let her 60" and the
choir "let her CO." and there was some
noise there or thereabouts.
"Glad to see so many OF the boys
here tonight" began the speaker; 81
feel that God called me unto the work
for the boys. When a man OF my age
has spent fifteen years going down to
hell and has been stopped, he owes u
debt OF gratitude. That's what to
cash in.
"To-night | am not going to talk to
cemeteries. God only knows the Sc
crets of the graveyards. Scores
that lay in Lone Mountain refused the
Lord. When the casket is screwed
down there is no chance for q fellow.
When the Grape is hanged before the
door you can't cash your checks.
Twice in my life have lain at deaths
door, once with u knife wound, and once
with IA that left hole in my neck
can put my finger into"
The revivalist described how a par
son in sermon over q drunkard
promised the wife and mother and
daughter to meet him in heaven.
"No, he went to hell" cried the
evangelist. "a gambler don't want
to 90 to heaven. He'd have no oneto
play q game with him."
The exhorter here tell into lachry-
nose condition, during which he dealt
in considerable sentiment, and related
the story uf his own conversion
willis dealing faro He claimed to
have been to wicked for description,
too low for imagination to grasp, and
took huge satisfaction in the pic
ture of depravity which he present.
ed.
"But," he shouted, shifting the pulpit
a mighty thwack, "I've found O
game that pays. I've found hand
that wins every hour OF my life; it's
hand no man can hold over, no
man can bluff me on. 1t is the hand
God dealt TO me, and | won't lay it
down until | lay it down at the
throne OF God"
The converted gambler then depict
ed girl initiated into agame OF cards
in home, and o. year later staggering
M the street.
Then somewhat irrelevantiy ne as
serted: "a gambler has O. heart as
big as q church. God bless and have
mercy on the gamblers OF San Fran.
cisco. The only time l ever held o
sure hand that couldn't be done up |
hold now.
"a friend OF mine helped plant in
I,eadvile. There was O man who
held as big a roll as any man IN
Frisco. found him lying dying
from consumption. don't want to
suueal at the tail end of my life he
said. That isn't squealing,' | said.
So found parson and set him to
work on him. We all got down on
our knees, and while we prayed he
gasped, God, il there's such thing